Magic show at Lancaster Festival proves entertaining for whole family

Jul. 23, 2013

Kaley Sloan, 11, left, hold a celery stalk as magician Rick Smith Jr., right, tries to slice it in half by throwing a playing card through it Monday at River Valley Mall in Lancaster. Smith and Drew Murray performed magic tricks for a large audience as part of the Lancaster Festival. / Matthew Berry/Eagle-Gazette

Written by

Francesca Sacco

The Eagle-Gazette Staff

Drew Murray holds a table in the air during a magic show Monday at River Valley Mall in Lancaster. Murray and Rick Smith Jr. performed for the crowd as part of the Lancaster Festival. / Matthew Berry/Eagle-Gazette

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LANCASTER — What do flying playing cards, slap-stick comedy and celery have to do with each other? They make for one hilarious, entertaining magic show.

On Monday, Cleveland-area magicians Rick Smith Jr. and Drew Murray captivated young and old with their comedy magic during two shows — one at the River Valley Mall and other at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

With the help of audience members, the magicians made balls disappear, tables float and vegetables fall apart.

Smith, best known for holding a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing a playing card the farthest and the fastest, displayed his skills for the audience. After a quick contest, five audience members attempted to throw a playing card the farthest. The winner got hold a piece of celery while Smith sliced it in half with a playing card.

Donned in protective goggles and a gauntlet, winner Kaley Sloan, of Lancaster, said it was a little intimidating standing there, holding the celery.

“It was a little scary,” she said. “I thought he would hit me, but he didn’t.”

For being such a good sport, Smith gave Sloan an autographed postcard, throwing card, a stack of magic cards and, of course, the celery.

“I don’t know what I am going to do with it,” said Sloan, 11. “I’m probably going to put it in my fridge.”

Megan Sattler said she tries to bring her two children to as many events the festival holds at the River Valley Mall as possible. In the past, she has seen jugglers, puppets and a ventriloquist, but nothing was as entertaining as Monday’s show.

“They did a great job,” said Sattler, of Lancaster. “It was very funny and entertaining for the kids and the adults.”

Sattler said she was surprised by the show, and said she originally thought it would be geared toward little children.

“I wasn’t expecting to see this kind of stuff,” she said.

Murray said they stay away from “bunnies, top hats and anything with flowers.” Instead, they focus on entertaining the whole family.

“The show is not meant to be just for little kids,” said Murray. “Whoever is sitting out there will have a good time.”